Relative Clauses

Front

What is a relative clause?

Back

A relative clause is a dependent clause that modifies a noun or pronoun, providing additional information about it.

Front

What is the function of 'who' in a relative clause?

Back

The word 'who' is used to refer to people in relative clauses.

Front

What is the function of 'which' in a relative clause?

Back

The word 'which' is used to refer to animals or things in relative clauses.

Front

What is the function of 'that' in a relative clause?

Back

The word 'that' can refer to people, animals, or things and is often used in defining relative clauses.

Front

What is the function of 'whose' in a relative clause?

Back

The word 'whose' indicates possession and is used to refer to people or things.

Front

What is a defining relative clause?

Back

A defining relative clause provides essential information about the noun it modifies, without which the sentence would not make sense.

Front

What is a non-defining relative clause?

Back

A non-defining relative clause adds extra information about a noun but is not essential to the meaning of the sentence.

Front

How do you punctuate non-defining relative clauses?

Back

Non-defining relative clauses are set off by commas.

Front

Can relative clauses be omitted?

Back

Yes, in some cases, especially in defining relative clauses, the relative pronoun can be omitted.

Front

What is the difference between 'who' and 'whom'?

Back

'Who' is used as a subject, while 'whom' is used as an object in a relative clause.